The Evening Brief: June 11, 2012

New in The Texas Tribune:

• Dewhurst Again Slams Cruz Over Lawsuit Involving Chinese Firm: "David Dewhurst again criticized U.S. Senate runoff rival Ted Cruz’s involvement in a patent case — pitting a Chinese company against a U.S. inventor — saying Monday that 'this is a terrific insight into the character of Mr. Cruz.'"

• Texas Gets Creative With Plans for Recycling Water: "Later this year, a plant in Big Spring will become the state's first facility to process wastewater and send it back into the drinking water system. This is the ultimate use of 'reclaimed water' — a source crucial to Texas' future."

• With a Runoff, Dynamics Change in Senate Race: "So much for sure things: David Dewhurst was expected to walk away with the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate, even in a field of nine candidates. Now he's in a runoff — and it's been a good year for insurgents like opponent Ted Cruz."

• For TxDOT, a $2 Billion "Perception Problem": "The Texas Department of Transportation announced this year that it had an extra $2 billion in funding. And that could hurt the agency's attempts at getting extra funding next session."

Culled:

• Hispanic voters targeted in new ad blitz for Obama (The Associated Press): "One of the nation's largest unions and a Democratic super PAC supporting President Barack Obama launched a joint $4 million Spanish-language advertising campaign on Monday, targeting Hispanic voters. The ads, sponsored by the Service Employees International Union and Priorities USA Action, argue that Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney's policies would benefit the wealthiest Americans at the expense of Hispanics and other working families."

• Texas prepares for court over voter ID law (San Antonio Express-News): "Texas is preparing for a legal showdown next month in federal court over a new voter photo ID law passed by the Legislature. … Despite legal maneuvering by Texas and Justice Department lawyers, a three-judge U.S. District Court panel has cleared the docket for a July 9 trial. And it remains questionable whether the new law can be implemented in Texas by the November general election."